Planter



(No Model.) 7 SheetsSheet 1.

E. TYDEN & s. B. DOVER.

' PLANTER.

No. 453,330. I Patented June 2, 1891.

Z 1 i/@ l A I I Q o 7, JZ .71 I

(No Model.)

E. TYDEN & S. B. DOVER.

. PL'ANTER.

No. 453,330. Patented June 2, 1891.

1 E """WWUII IIIIIIITI L' IIIIIHiIIIIIIIIIIII "7 Sheets-Sheet .2,

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' E. TYDEN 8v S. B. DOVER.

PLANTER.

Patented June 2, 1891.

(No Model.)

I 7 Sheets-Sheet 4. E. TYDEN &'S. B. DOVER.

PLANTER.

Patented June 2,1891.

(No Model.) v '1' Sheets-Sheet 5.

- E. TYDEN 81; S. B. DOVER.

PLANTER.

Patented June 2, 1891 '1 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Model.)

B. TYDEN 8: S. B. DOVER.

PLANTBR.

No. 453,330.- Patented June 2,1891.

VIII/Illa, jn

THE mums PiTERS cm. PNDTD-LITHO wusmmsran, n. c.

7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

(No Model.)

E1 TYDEN & S. B. DOVER.

PLANTER.

Patented June 2, 1391.

El Fey. /6.

JJ I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL TYDEN AND SAMUEL B. DOVER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO THE IVESTERN PLANTER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters-Patent No. 453,330, dated June 2, 1891.

Application filed March 29, 1889- Serial No. 305,281. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: trunnion at the bottom of the are, showing Be it known that we, EMIL TYDEN and SAM- the means of attaching the brace of the wheel- UEL B. DOVER. bothcitizens of the United frame thereto. Fig. 21 is an elevation of one States, residing at Chicago, in the county of of the side bars of the planter. Fig. 21 is a Cook and State of Illinois, have invented cerdetail section of the line 5 5 on Fig. 16. Fig. 5

tain new and useful Improvements in Plant- 22 is an elevation of the front bar of the runers, of which the following is a full and exact Her-frame. Fig. 23 is an elevation of a strut specification. belonging to the same. Fig. 24 is a transverse Our invention relates to seed-planters, and section of the strut, taken in line'3 3 of Fig.

io particularly to that class of implements 23. Fig. 25 is adetail perspective view indi- 60 adapted to plant two parallel rows of corn cating the means of attachment of the runner simultaneously; and it consists of certain imto the end of the front bar. Fig. 26 is an ele-' provements in the frame of the machine and vation of the bar which supports the drivers inthe drop mechanism, as will be hereinafter seat. Fig. 27 is a perspective view of the more particularly specified. scraper which clears the carrying-wheels from 6 In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective accumulations. Fig. 28 is a perspective view view of the planter with one hopperopened of a casting for attaching the same to the to expose the drop mechanism. Fig. 2 is a scraper-bar. Fig. 29 is a detail perspective side perspective view with both hoppers of the hooked or threaded end of the braceclosed. Fig. 3 is" a detail perspective view of rod of the wheel-frame. Fig. is a view of the drop mechanism. Fig. 4 is a detail plan the arm which operates the scraper-bar, toview of a pawl and the means for retaining gether with its attendant parts. Fig. 31 is a it on its trunnion. Fig. 5 is a side view of the sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 30. same part. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the bottom Like letters indicate similar parts through- 2 5 plate of the hopper in which the drop-disk out the several views. 7 is seated. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the The frame of the planter will be first decut-ofi for removing the surplus grain from scribed, and reference is now had particularly the drop-plate cups. Fig. 8 is a perspective to Figs. 15 and 17. It is made up of a wheelview of a guideway which leads the grain to frame and a runner and planter frame flexi- 30 the cut-off in a narrowed stream. Fig. 9 isa bly united, as will appear from the detail deplan view of the beam-plate on which the scription. It is especially desirable thatsuch hopper rests. Fig. 10isasectional view showframes shall be strong, yet light and elastic,

. ing the hopper drop mechanism and the leg and that all parts shall be of simple constructhrough which the corn is dropped to earth. tion.

5 Fig. 11 is a sectional view of parts of the The axleA which carriesthe wheel-frame,

' drop mechanism and of the valve which deis of tubing A, provided at either end with a termines thetime of dropping the grain. Figs. trunnion A, clamped in position by the bolts 12 and 13 are detail views illustrating the a a. This clamping is made possible by bimeans for securing the cover of the hopper in furcating the walls of the trunnion with the 40 place. Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the planter, longitudinal openings a separating the cham- 00 the runners being lowered into ground. Fig. bered portion into halves, which may be 15 is a detail section of an axle-trunnion. readily sprung into contact with the tube. Fig. 16 is a plan view of the skeleton frame The chamber of each trunnion tapers at its of the planter. Fig. 17 is a perspective view inner end to form an inclined seat a, which 5 showing the generalconstruction of the wheelallows for any irregularity of the casting and 5 frame of the planter. Fig. 18 isa perspective further insures the solidity of the contact. view of the lever audits foot balancing-arms. Each of the side bars B of the frame, as Fig.- 19 is a longitudinal section of the arc and shown also in Fig. 21, is composed of two the tube upon which it is mounted, taken on pieces of bar iron or steel arranged as atruss,

50 line 2 2 of Fig. 17. Fig. 20 is a view of the in which thetrunnion servesasastrut. Their I00 rear ends form a cylindrical bearing 1), which carries the scraper-bar. The forward end of the upper bar B is produced beyond the end of the lower bar B to form a hinge-socket b for a pin, and is then returned rearwardly below the lower member of the side bar, to which it is secured by the end a of the brace A The trunnion A is extended above and below to form seats for the two elements of the side bar, the bolt a fastening them thereon. Side flanges a prevent side motion and locate the position of the parts. A lever-arc O is carried upon the tube A midway in its length and is secured in position by a bolt 0, passing through its hub and through the tube. The are is provided with a trunnion c, as shown most clearly in Fig. 19, to receive the eye a of the brace A also held by the bolt (3. A seat-support A extends upwardly and rearwardly from the are, forming a member of a tripod, which is completed by the double brace A mounted upon the rear ends of the side bars B and held between its members B and B. The bolts 1) b which bind these parts together, also secure the ends of the brace. The extended end of the seat-support,

. which preferably returns upon itself, Fig. 26, is

a portion a and increases its strength and carrying capacity. The brace A of V form, is turned upwardly at right angles at each end to form a threaded portion a, which passes through and secures the members of the side bars together and closes the hinge-sockets 19 At its center a loop or eye a serves to attach it to the arc, as before described, and to thus rigidly tie the brace and parts of the entire wheel-frame together. The scraper-bar-D is also of tubing loosely confined in the end bearings b of the side bars and carries upon each end a scraper E, which serves to clear the planter wheels from accumulations. These scrapers are in two parts,Figs 27 and 28-21. body-piece e, of any satisfactory contour to suit the surface of the wheel, and a clamping portion e to secure it to the bar.

The one casting has projecting lugs 6 adapted to receive complementary lugs e, extending from the other casting, and to form therewith a hinging connection. Abolt passes through the apertures e and c and firmly clamps the scraperin position upon the bar. By this arrangement of parts the scrapers may be accurately adjusted to the surface of the wheels and an even contact maintained therewith not obtainable were they pinned fixedly to the bar. One end of the brace A maybe extended beyond one of the side bars and be notched at a, Fig. 30, to receive the flange f of an arm F, pinned upon the scraper-bar D as ameans of its rotation. The bar is thus locked against end motion and maintains the lateral position of the scrapers. Astop 1 pre vents undue rotation of the bar and holds the scrapers a proper distance from the surface of the wheel when they are not in use, and yet in such proximity that they maybe readily applied whenever it is desired to do so.

be described.

The lever G is preferably constructed of two parts, the one G having the operatingarm g extending upwardly and provided with the usual latching devices and the other G riveted or otherwise secured to it to form a bifurcated lever, between the parts of which the are C is received. Both parts have rearwardly-projecting foot-arms g and foot-rests g and also forwardlyextending arms 9 which may be provided with a foot-rest similar to that of the rear arms, or, if preferred, may have the rest 9 formed of tubing secured between the ends of the two castings. As will be seen by referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 18, this compound lever is fulcrumed or pivoted directly on the cylindrical axle A and has bearings thereon widely separated, thus obtaining the greatest stability and strength laterally and pivotally, together with the utmost simplicity of parts. The are 10- cates its position and prevents side motion.

In planters it is requisite that great leverage be given the foot-arms to secure ease in the raising and lowering of the runner-frame to regulate the depth of planting. These arms are in the form of a triangle, the base of which is the tube, thus obtaining steadiness of operation. The links connecting the lever to the tongue projecting through the runner-frame are pivoted to it in the apertures g.

By the arrangement of parts described as constituting the wheel-frame great strength and-flexibility are obtained. This flexibility is particularly desirable in the side bars, since they control the position of the runners, and if rigid would prevent them from following, as is necessary, the irregularities of the ground over which they pass. They may be given more or less spring, as is found desirable, by the method shown in Fig. 21, the aperture 12 in the bar B being here shown of such size as to permit play of one bar upon the other. The form of bars shown in Figs. 17 and 21 are found to be very satisfactory and possess sufficiently the qualities of elliptical springs to secure the desired results. It will be observed, also, that the seat, which is supported principally upon the extreme rear ends of the bars, is cushioned by this same spring action. The draft strain delivered to the bars at thehingesockets b is evenly divided and carried to both sides of the strut and delivered 011 both ends of the bolts a a, rendering the strain very equable.

The runner-frame of the planter will now The main beam I, to which the hoppers and the seed-legs are attached, is of angle-steel, and the frontbeam H is of barsteel, arranged as a truss in form somewhat similar to the side bars previously described. Bolts h h fasten these bars together at their ends, and struts H H hold them apart at their middle. The struts have holes h h,

through which to insert a pin to secure the tongue to the frame and to adjust its height to suit the size of the team employed for draft purposes. An aperture Win eachserves for the insertion of the hooked end of abrace I,

the rearward end of which is bent and threaded for attachment in the main beam, the hinge-casting I being secured to the beam by it. The frame is strongly braced by these ties and the draft strain transmitted by them directly from the tongue to the ends of the side bars, Fig. 16, and thence to the wheeltrunnions and sideward to the seed-legs and runners. By this direct distribution of strain it is rendered practicable to construct the beams very light and of but little strength. The main beam serves, essentially, as a strut and the front beam as a means for maintaining the front ends of the runners at their proper lateral distances and to exert downward pressure in forcing them into ground. The tongue of the planter is carried to the rearward from the strut H through strap '5,

Fig. 1, on the main beam and to a point below the front end of the lever-arms g, to which it is attached by connection-bars g Fig. 14.

The drop mechanism will now be described. A foundation-plate J rests directly upon the beam I, to which it is secured by the clip projectionsj, Figs. 3, 9, and 10. A bolt vJ fastens it firmly at the rear to the leg K, through which the seed is dropped to earth. The front of the plate is provided with hinge-lugs j, which register with corresponding lugs Z- on the bottom casting L of the hopper and serve as a pivotal point for the swinging of the entire hopper attached thereto into an open position, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3.

When thus open the drop mechanism is exposed to view for repairing, cleaning, and for the exchange of the drop-plate for others of different-sized apertures. A spring j locks the hopper when closed. The bottom casting L has a central cylindrical opening Z, in which rotates the-drop-plate M, pivoted on a trunnion l projecting from the covering-lug L of the casting L. This plate M when the hopper is closed receives the corn in its cups m and carries it under the cut-off N, where it is dropped into leg K and thence to ground. By making these cups open and tapering toward the periphery of the disk and providing a recess Z in the cylindrical walls in which the disk revolves at the point where the contents of the cup are to be dropped the compression due to forcing the grain into the .cups is relieved and the grain is dropped out with great certainty. It is found that when the cups are cylindrical and closed on all sides clogging is of frequent occurrence and the consequent missing of hill after hill pos sible.

The cylindrical opening Z of t-he'castingsL is closed at the bottom by the pivoted plate L, upon which the drop-plate M rests and revolves. This plate is provided with an aperture 1*, through which the grain is dropped when a seed-cup registers therewith. be readily understood that when the plate L is closed the hopper may be opened and It will shut without the loss of any grain therefrom and that a very ready means for changing drop-plates without removing the grain from the hopperis obtained.

The drop-plate M is provided with lugs m, which,when the hopper is closed, are engaged by lugs 0 on the pawl-wheel 0, operating through a central opening Z in the supplementary plate, and the plate thus given motion. The pawl-wheel rests upon and within the foundation-plate J and is pivoted on a trunnion 3' projecting therefrom. A slide P is arranged to seat and be reciprocated in recessesj in the foundation-plate J and has pawls R, adapted to give motion to the pawlwheel in the usual manner. These pawls are pivoted on trunnions P, having on their outer end a lug p, projecting beyond their bearing-surface in such form that the pawl having a-corresponding recess 4 is permitted to pass over itwhen the free end is held above its normal position, but to be retained by it when in operative position. The slide P is provided with lugs 19 so placed that the lugs 0 upon the pawl-wheel engage with them at the end of each reciprocation and lock the wheel from further movement between it and the operating-pawl. This is for the purpose of maintaining the registry of the seed-cups with the aperture Z in the plate L until the grain has time to drop.

A convenient meansfor attaching the reciprocating connection-bar P to the slide P is shown in Fig. 3. The bar is received below a portion of the slide 19 which prevents it rising from its place when once seated upon thepin 19 The slide P is provided with a wing portion 19 Figs. 9, l0, and 11, which has motion below the plate J at the opening 9' and serves to oscillate the foot-valve S. The wing is so proportioned as to only permit the passage of the grain dropped when the footvalve is nearly at the end of an oscillation. Scattering of grain is thus prevented. The slide P is locked in its seat by the wing proj ecting below the beam-plate, but may be conveniently removed by bringing it to register with the aperture f and lifting first the opposite side from the recess in which it slides. The valve S is of spring-steel pivoted on a bolt T midway in the lengthof the leg. The travel given the top of the valve is somewhat in excess of what is required for its foot to traverse the space between the walls of the chamber in which it moves, a slight pressure against the wall at each end of the stroke being the result. This pressure serves to insure a perfect closing of the valve and the retention of the grain by it. It also allows the slide to obtain full headway before it releases the grain, and then affords a quick release, which prevents a scattering of the grain.

Other points of advantage are that the slide is brought to rest at each end of its stroke without jar and that it cannot-bebroken by obstructions forcing themselves into the leg. The aperture through which the pivoting-bolt '1 passes is made by forcing the portions 3 s downwardly and the portion 5 upwardly to form a cylindrical bearing.

To prevent clogging of grain, the lifting of the chiselof the cut-off unnecessarily, and the possibility of grain catching under its corners, a narrowed way U is formed by abutmentwalls to and u to conduct the grain in a narrowed stream to it. Achisel N, pivoted on trunnions oz, integral with it, clears off the surplus grain from the cups of the drop-plates. These trunnions are seated in bearings in the plate L on or about the plane of cut-off, a smoother operation being obtained by this arrangement than by that in which the pivotal point is above the plane of cut-off. The cap casting N", which covers the cut-off chisel and its spring, is provided with recesses a, into which the trunnions of the cut-off are received and held, a single bolt a serving to secure all the parts together.

Referring to Figs; 10, 12, and 13, IV is the cover of the hopper, and W a metallic baror spring secured to it on its under side. This spring is adapted to engage with lugs 20, pro jecting from the casting, when the cover is seated between the guide-lugs w and moved forward. The lugs 10 serve as stops, and the cover when in the position indicated in Fig. 13 is firmly secured.

Other methods besides that of hinging will be found to be satisfactory for holding the hopper in position and yet allow it to be opened for disclosing the drop mechanism. It is not desired to narrowly cover this. The important feature of this part of the invention is the location of the drop-plate within or below the bottom plate of the hopper and the use of a supplementary floor-plate which aifords a bottom cover to its seed-cu-ps, which can be readily removed or from which it can be taken, but when in operative position allows the drop-plate to be carried with the bottom plate of the hopper and acts as a floorplate to protect it and the hopper against loss of grain which is contained in the latter at the time. It is further desired in the matter of the side bars of the planter to cover these not only as trusses, but as springs, which have merits over a rigid bar.

We claim- 1. In combination with a fixed axle of a planter, a trunnion comprising a tubular socket or sleeve adapted to receive the end of the axle, such sleeve having the longitudinal opening a and being clamped onto the axle, substantially as set forth.

2. In a planter-frame, the side trusses, each having its upper and lower bars made of one piece folded upon itself to form an eye or hearing at the fold, and the shaft D, journaled in such eyes, substantially as set forth.

3. I11 a planter, in combination with the axle of the supporting-wheels and the wheelframe of which it is a part, the planter-frame hinged to such wheel-frame, and a tilting lever pivoted upon the axle and having its axis coincident with that of the wheels and having an arm connected to the planter-frame, whereby the relation of the two frames to each other may be adjusted by rocking the lever about the axis of the supporting-wheels, substantially as set forth.

4. In a planter, in combination with the axle of the supporting-wheels and the wheelframe of which it is apart, the planter-frame hinged to such wheel-frame, and a tilting lever rocking over the axle, and an arc to which said tilting lever is adapted to be locked, such are being secured directly upon the axle, substantially as set forth.

5. 111 a planter, in combination with the wheel-frame having the axle of the supporting-wheels rigid with it, the tilting lever journaled upon such axle and having its axis coincident with that of the wheels, and an arc rigid with the axle, to which said lever is adapted to be locked, and the seat having a support directly attached to such are, substantially as set forth.

6. In a planter, in combination with the double brace A", the seat-support A, extended across the brace A and provided with a portion (1 which turns upon itself below the brace A said seat-support being attached to said brace A both at the point where it crosses the brace A above thelatter and at the point where the portion a returns below said brace, substantially as set forth.

7. In a planter, in combination with the axle of the supporting-wheels and the side trusses rigidly attached to such axle at its ends, the braces A A rigidly attached to the axle at the middle and to the trusses, respectively, at their forward ends, substantially as set forth.

8. In a planter, in combination with the axle of the supporting-Wheels, the brace A A attached rigidly to the axle at themiddle and having the ends bent at right angles to the body and inserted in holes provided in the trusses, whereby it is attached to the trusses at the ends, substantially as set forth.

9. In a planter, in combination with the axle of the supporting-wheels and the side trusses rigidly attached to such axle, the double brace A A in one piece, having its two arms bent at an angle to each other and formed with an eye at such angle, whereby said brace is adapted to be secured to the axle by one bolt at such eye, substantially as set forth.

10. In a planter, in combination with the axle of the supporting-wheels, the side trusses rigidly attached to the axle at its ends, the are having its hub encircling the axle at the middle and provided withadownwardly-projecting boss, the double brace A A having its arms bent at an angle to each other and formed with an eye at such angle adapted to receive said boss, said hub having a bolt-apert-u re piercing it at said boss, and abolt inserted through such aperture and provided with a suitable stop, whereby a single bolt serves to retain the eye on the boss and attach it to the hub and to the axle and to secure the hub to the axle, substantially as set forth.

11. In combination, substantially as set forth, the scraper-bar D, the arm F, fixed thereto, having the flange f, the side bars in which said scraper-baris journaled, and the brace A secured to said side bars adjacent to the bearing of the scraper-bar therein, said brace having the notch a wherein the flange f is lodged, substantially as set forth.

12. In combination with the scraper-barD and the arm F, secured thereto, having the flange f the side bars having the bearings in which said scraper-bar D is journaled, and the brace A secured to said side bars adja cent to said bearing of the scraper-bar and having a notch a", in which said flange f is lodged, said arm F having the stop projection fprojecting laterally from the upper end of the fiangef whereby the throw of the scraperbar rearwardly is limited, substantially as set forth.

13. In a planter, in combination with the Wheel-frame and planter-frame hinged together, the lever for adjusting them to each other, rocking over the bearing on the wheelframe, said lever being bifurcated atitslower,

part, the two ends produced by such bifurcation being made to diverge laterally andeach being journaled on said bearing at a distance apart, whereby said lever is given stability, substantially as set forth.

14. In a planter,in combination with the wheel-frame and planter-frame hinged together, the lever by which they are adjusted to each other, bifurcated at its lower part and having its two ends thus formed journaled upon the bearing on the wheel-frame at considerable distance apart, and an arc to which said lever is adapted to be locked in its adjust1nent,rigid1yfixed on said bearingbetween the bifurcated arms of the lever and adapted to contact them both laterally, whereby said are further increases the stability of the lever, substantially as set forth.

15. In combination with the wheel-frame and planter-frame hinged together, the lever by which they are adjusted to each other, formed of two parts, one of said parts having the operative arm extending upwardly, each of said parts having both rearwardly and forwardly extended arms, said two parts being widely separated at their lower ends and at said ends journaled on the wheel-frame, their bearings having a common axis, the forwardlyextending arms of the two partsbeingjoined at the forward end and the rearwardly-extending parts beingjoined at the rear end, whereby the said two bearings of said lever are braced in three directions, thereby giving said lever great rigidity and stability, substantially as set forth.

16. In a planter, arunner-frame or plauter-.

frame comprising an an gle-ironbar I, extend in gtransversely from side to side of the frame, having a horizontal and a vertical lip, and the legs K, secured to the vertical lip, and the base of the dropping mechanism secured to the horizontal lip, substantially as set forth. 17. ha planter, in combination with the strut H, having the apertureh the brace I, having the hooked end adapted to be inserted in said aperture, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

18. In a planter, in combination with the runners, the truss which forms the front beam of the planter-frame, having one of its members bent vertically at the end, the runner having its point extended and secured to said bent end, substantially as set forth.

19. In a planter, in combination with the wheel-frame and the planter-frame hinged thereto, the hinged casting I and the brace I, connected at its forward end to the front bar of the runner-frame and having its rear end provided with a bent portion inserted through the rear transverse bar of the rear frame and through the hinge-casting and adapted to be secured in place bya nut, substantially as set forth.

20. In a planter, in combination with the wheel-frame having side bars and the planterframe hinged to said wheel-frame at the forward end of said side bars, said planter-frame having its forward bar consisting of a truss with a strut at its middle part, atongue passing through said strut, and braces extending from said strut at opposite sides of the tongue, diverging rearward, and connected, respectively, to the rear bar of the planter-frame directly in front of the forward ends of the side bars of the wheel-frame, substantially as set forth.

21. In a planter, in combination with the I hopper and the drop-plate carried by the hopper in its bottom, a fixed base to which said hopper is hinged, and feeding-pawl mechanism supported on said base and having parts which project upward and engage the dropplate when the hopper is upright on the base, but which permit the hopper to be rocked over its hinge and carry the drop-plate up away from said feeding mechanism without deranging the latter, substantially as set forth.

22. In a planter, in combination with a foundation-plate J, having an aperture 7' the slide which operates as a valve to close said aperture and. having a downwardly-extending projection the seed-leg of the planter secured to the foundation-plate and communicating with the aperturejand an oscillating foot-valve in said seed-leg having its upper end engaged by the projection 7' substantially as set forth.

23. In a planter, in combination with the bottom plate of the hopper, the cut-off operating therein, the abutment-walls of the seedchannel in said bottom plate converging to narrow the portion at the vicinity of the cut- IIS off to diminish the duty required thereof, subplane of operation of its edge, substantially stantially as set forth. as set forth.

24. In a planter, in combination with the In witness whereof we hereunto subscribe bottom plate having the circular seed-chanour names this 25th day of March,A. D. 1888.

5 nel, the drop-plate M, the chisel cut-off exr T T tending in a direction tangential to the chanl g' nei and pivoted outside the circle bounding i J J the latter, having its edge operating at the Witnesses: plane of the upper surface of the drop-plate T. G. ANDERSON,

[O and having its pivot substantially at the said J. F. BARKSTROM. 

